Parkdale leaders Jack Edwards, Charlie Yee, Jack Vorbach have Vultures flying again

Parkdale’s coach has lauded three key players for playing a vital role in bringing the club back into finals contention after overcoming 16 straight losses.

Parkdale Vultures coach Owen Lalor addressing his players. Picture: Supplied

After being relegated to VAFA’s Premier C division, five straight losses and a 16-game losing streak wasn’t the way Parkdale would have wanted to start their season.

The Vultures made some strong attempts to break the drought in rounds four and six this season when it lost by single digit margins to Old Mentonians and Old Ivanhoe.

After falling short in these close encounters it almost felt as if losing was inevitable for the Vultures.

In round seven however, all the talk of losing was put to bed when the Vultures defeated University High School – Victoria University by 31-points and the losing streak was broken.

Since then, the Vultures have won six of their past seven matches marking a stunning turnaround as they move up the ladder.

On Saturday they defeated sixth sixth-placed Ormond by 43-points to jump from seventh to fifth spot on the ladder as the Vultures now eye off a spot in the finals.

Notably they picked up the win with just one of three players over the age of 25 in the side, proving just how bright the future could be at Gerry Green Reserve. Last season they had up to 12 Under 19’s in its senior side.

Vultures coach Owen Lalor said more playing experience for his younger players has seen them improve.

“The easiest way to sum it up is now we’ve got a bigger pool of players that have now all played 12 to 20 games of senior footy,” Lalor said.

“Last year we had a big pool of players that had only played about five to 10 senior games.

“It’s amazing what confidence does, the more you play at a senior level.

“These young fellas are really improving.

“And we see it, we’re watching it grow in front of our eyes, the maturity of them and just their confidence playing senior footy.

“It’s been really cool to be a part of.”

Parkdale coach Owen Lalor credited seniors skipper Jack Edwards and vice-captains Charlie Yee and Jack Vorbach for the club’s resurgence. Picture: Supplied

Lalor who was previously at Sandringham Dragons as a development coach and VFL assistant coach credited his three players in the leadership group for driving the culture.

“There’s a guy named Charlie Yee, he won our best and fairest last year in B grade after the 11 games but it’s not just that,” Lalor said about the vice-captain.

“He is a really strong leader, a developing leader, he’s very young, like he’s only 20, 21 years of age and he’s a really good leader that a lot of the boys follow.

“So he’s on-field football has improved dramatically but off-field, he sets a really good standard at the club.

“It could be game day, he is doing extra things that we don’t see behind the scenes, cleaning up, packing up things and then Thursday nights, he’s always doing something.

“And then he’s doing extras before training and getting young groups of players down at the club a bit early to do a bit of extra stuff out on the track.

“It’s guys like that that you need to get a real core group of leaders at you club.”

Yee has featured in the best players on six occasions from 12 matches this season.

Lalor also credited skipper Jack Edwards for his professionalism as one of the older players in the side.

“Together with another guy called Jack Edwards, he’s been terrific too,” he said.

“He’s such a loyal guy.

“He is one of those three blokes over the age of 25 and he’s only 27 himself and he sets a really semi-professional standard the way he goes about everything from preparation, recovery, training.”

Lalor also complemented Jack Vorbach for his support in helping gel the younger players with the seniors.

“Jack’s another one that a couple of years ago, he was a bit of a scallywag around the club but fast forward three years, he has really developed and matured just in the way he goes about everything,” he said.

“He’s really important in bringing a lot of these younger 17 and 18 year old’s into the club and setting a really good standard with them.

“He’s been really terrific Jack Vorbach.”

The Vultures will have a bye next week before taking on second-placed Monash Blues on July 16.